It must be a trifle disconcerting for the rest of the cast, but such unusual informality was great fun for everyone else.

The Girl Who Couldn't Quite is a 1950 British drama film directed by Norman Lee and starring Bill Owen, Elizabeth Henson and Iris Hoey. [2] It is based on the 1947 stage play of the same name by Leo Marks.Monthly Film Bulletin said "A tear-shaker of the dampest variety, handled with some tact, and simply played by Bill Owen and Elizabeth Henson." [5] Elizabeth Henson plays the role of Ruth, the woman who finds it hard to smile, while Bill Owen (Compo in Last of the Summer Wine) is Tim, the man who brought her happiness.

Norman Lee directs this British drama about a woman who hasn’t smiled since she was a little girl. But with the friendship of a tramp she smiles again. Godfrey Evans, as Sir John, and Edwin Tupper, as Paul Evans, also new to the stage, did not do quite as well as Desmond Tyler, but with a little more strength in delivery they would have carried their not too difficult parts well. Ross Workman would also have done better in a minor part if he had shown a little more power.Desmond, who lives in the Old Village, Portslade, had never been on a stage before and, what is more, had never been to a theatre, but his complete unconcern gave no hint of nervousness. As the philosophical tramp he had very little need for make-up. Tall, with shoulder-length hair and fiery red beard and moustache, it was simple matter to add the tattered garments suitable for a ‘Knight of the Road’. Adapted from a play by Leo Marks, the story concerns a girl’s obliviousness causes her to forget about the man who had brought her so much happiness in her life. Overall, there is enough happening to make The Girl Who Couldn’t Quite a decent movie to watch, if there isn’t anything that stands out. With all the sang-froid of the practiced comedian he turned his lapses of memory into the high-spots of the evening. What audience could fail to respond to the lovable vagrant who confides across the footlights “Just a minute, I’ve forgotten me words”, and then appeals loudly to the prompter for help? Excellent support was given by Edwin Tupper, Godfrey Evans and Ross Workman, and the play was produced by Betty Carpenter.